2021 Annual Report for: Bucculatricidae / Bucculatricinae

For species seen in 2021 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.

For the maps, all records prior to 2021 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2021, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').

In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.

14.001 [B&F: 0265] Bucculatrix cristatella (Zeller, 1839) - Nationally Scarce B

Nationally scarce (Nb) on downland, grassland, waste ground and roadside verges throughout much of England. In Hampshire there are just a handful of recent records, but perhaps overlooked; on the Isle of Wight, there are no records since the Victorian County History at the turn of the 19th century. Wingspan 6-7 mm. Larva mines leaves and stems of Yarrow.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
102019001900
117419822013
125219802004

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Portsmouth, one, 14 Jun (IRT)

14.002 [B&F: 0266] Bucculatrix nigricomella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local on embankments, waste ground and rough grassland throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire mainly confined to the coast, east of Southampton, very uncommon elsewhere. Recorded on the Isle of Wight for the first time at Freshwater in 2010. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Flies in the late afternoon and early morning. Distinguished from other Bucculatrix by dark metallic bronze ground colour, with diffused whitish spots on dorsum at one-half and three-quarters and two similar spots on costa slightly beyond, and white eye-caps (MBGBI Vol 2). Larva mines leaves of Ox-eye Daisy.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
109920102018
1111311619802020
12506619842020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
11562
12462

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Freshwater, one, 31 May (DCoo);

VC11: Totton, one, 21 Jul (LHan); Romsey, one, 29 Jul (NRJ); Fareham, one, 18 Sep (MLO det. ); Hilltop, The Hangers, one, 12 Jun (SIng det. DPH); Portsmouth, two, 02 Jun (IRT);

VC12: Basingstoke, one, 19 Jul; one, 22 Jul; two, 25 Jul; two, 26 Jul (MJW)

14.006 [B&F: 0270] Bucculatrix frangutella (Goeze, 1783) - Local

Local in fens, open woodland and hedgerows throughout much of south-eastern England, and in Yorkshire, Cumbria and on the Burren. In Hampshire it is found in boggy areas, where the foodplant is Alder Buckthorn, and on the chalk, where the larva is associated with Buckthorn. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight since 1975. Wingspan 7-8 mm. Larva mines leaves of Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
103119002018
1111618319742019
121004419752020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
1151310
12100

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Stockbridge Down NT, one, 18 Jul (GCE); Botley Wood, larval feeding signs, present, on host-plant, mines and larvae on Frangula alnus, 15 Aug (DPH); mine, present, mine(s) on Alder Buckthorn, 15 Aug (DWal); Wickham Common, vacated mine, two, on Frangula alnus, 03 Aug; Portchester Common SSSI, vacated mine, 10, 10+ mines on Rhamnus catharticus, 20 Sep (RJD);

VC12: Pamber Forest, vacated mine, present, 2 spiral mines on Alder buckthorn, 04 Sep (GJD)

14.007 [B&F: 0271] Bucculatrix albedinella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local in hedgerows and woodland margins throughout much of southern England, with records north to Yorkshire. In Hampshire virtually restricted to the south-east, where it remains reasonably numerous around the three harbours, but very rarely recorded in north of the county and on the Isle of Wight; perhaps overlooked. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of English Elm and Small-leaved Elm, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
105019772013
11602819322020
124220022011

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11222

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Stubbington, vacated mine, two, vacated mines on elm in Ranvilles Lane alongside RSPCA Ark, 19 Sep (DPH); Milton Common, vacated mine, present, 28 Sep (MRY, JRL)

14.008 [B&F: 0272] Bucculatrix cidarella (Zeller, 1839) - Local

Local throughout the British Isles on Alder, as far north as Inverness-shire, and on bog-myrtle on Anglesey and Borth Bog in north-west Wales, Co. Kerry in Ireland and Arne NNR in Dorset. In Hampshire very local, mainly in the south of the county, most notably at Roydon Wood, but also at Fleet and Eelmoor in the north; very infrequently recorded on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Alder and Bog-myrtle, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
106019771997
11574919822020
12212319982020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12122

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC12: Blackwater, two, 21 Jul (BDal)

14.009 [B&F: 0273] Bucculatrix thoracella (Thunberg, 1794) - Common

Common in ancient woodland, woodland rides, parks and gardens throughout much of southern England and Wales, north to the Humber. The first confirmed record of this species in Hampshire was in Winchester in 1976, since when the species has been found in other localities in north Hampshire, extending its range and now reasonably common throughout the county and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 6-8 mm. Larva mines leaves of Small-leaved Lime and Common Lime, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10371820032019
1125121019782020
12332520012020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11122
12331

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: Portsmouth, two, 19 Jul (IRT);

VC12: Minley Wood, one, field observation, 14 Jun; Blackwater, one, 24 Apr; one, field observation, 28 May (BDal)

14.010 [B&F: 0274] Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, 1848 - Common

Common where there are mature oak trees, throughout much of Britain, north to central Scotland. Widespread in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 7-8 mm. One of the more distinctive Bucculatrix species. Larva mines leaves of Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
10503519002020
1138332019682020
121058219762020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
10111
11331
12331

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC10: Totland, one, 01 Sep (RTer);

VC11: Totton, one, 01 Jun; one, 17 Jul (LHan); Hilltop, The Hangers, one, 12 Jun (SIng det. DPH);

VC12: Kempshott, one, 15 Aug (GAH); Yateley Common, one, field observation, 26 May; Blackwater, one, 22 Aug (BDal)

14.012 [B&F: 0275] Bucculatrix bechsteinella (Bechstein & Scharfenberg, 1805) - Local

Local in scrub, hedgerows and woodland edges throughout much of England and southern Scotland. Widespread in Hampshire, although apparently absent from the New Forest in recent years, and only known from a handful of sites on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 7-9 mm. Flies in evening sunshine. One of the less distinctive Bucculatrix species, and probably under-recorded. Larva mines leaves of Hawthorn, Pear, Apple, Rowan and Wild Service-tree, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
104119262005
11686119742020
12392019712018

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
12122

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC12: Frogmore, vacated mine, two, 04 Nov (BDal)

14.013 [B&F: 0276] Bucculatrix demaryella (Duponchel, 1840) - Local

Local in open woodland, heathland, moorland and bogs throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there are scattered records, and it is locally common in Botley Wood. Apart from a sighting in Mortimer West End (modern day Berkshire) in 1994, unrecorded in the north of Hampshire until mines were found in Blackwater Park on the Hampshire/Surrey border in July 2023. Wingspan 8-9 mm. Larva mines leaves of Birch, Hazel and Sweet Chestnut, over-wintering as a pupa.

Records prior to 2021

Vice County #Records #Individuals First Record Last Record
102119871987
118619692020

2021 records

Vice County #Records #Individuals Max Quantity
11111

Records by year

Records by week (adult)

Records by week (larval)


Record Details

VC11: West Walk, one, gen det, 23 Jul (RJD, MLO, ADT, DWal, KJW)